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Joined: Mar 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Oh, is that why, Helen? I have heard that the Japanese drink a lot, but never guessed this might be the reason. Thank you.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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addict
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The Japanese are rather conscious of the quantiy of alcohol they imbibe; this is not just a socio-cultural thing, it is also hard-wired into their DNA. A significant percentage of East Asian races have a variant of an enzyme called. alcohol dehydrogenase, which is crucial in the metabolism of alcohol. This alteration in metabolism results in elevated levels of acetaldehyde, which causes the uncomfortable flushing and other such reactions of excessive alcohol ingestion.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Thank you (again), maahey. Er--did you mean that the Japanese are more, or less, susceptible to the effects of alcohol than, say, Caucasians? I ask because my info. on how much they drink came from a Caucasian who lived there for years.
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Joined: Sep 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Despite the droll background in the NYT article, it's a dull little book by a dull little journalist, IMNAAHO.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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More susceptible Jackie. They as a race can't hold down their alcohol as much as say, a Caucasian can. That is because the enzyme doesn't do a good job of breaking down teh alcohol and so they experience the unpleasant effects of the 'high' state much before others do. I was made to understand that because they are aware of this, they drink less in social groupings. I don't know how it is in reality. Their Sake always seemed rather potent to me...[scratching head e]
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